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The Baptism of Jesus

When it comes to the baptism of Jesus there are a few things we should think about.

His actual baptism in the Jordan

His baptism on the cross

His personal and deep desire to baptize us with His Holy Spirit

One of the first things is when He was actually baptized by John. When John baptized Jesus this showed just how deeply that He wanted to be joined with all of us, even though we are sinners, that didn’t and doesn’t matter to Christ. As Peter tells us in Scripture that Jesus became “sin” for us all so that “we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). It was through His own personal baptism that He took on our sins which He carried with Him all the way to His death on the cross.

The second thing we should think about is that He is again baptized on the cross. He once told His disciples this “There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:50) Jesus knew that His death on the cross was going to be the culmination of everything that His baptism in the Jordan began. All of the sin that He had accepted in the River Jordan was going to be put to death on the cross and we would be redeemed through this selfless act of love and compassion for all of us.

But, it doesn’t end there, at the cross. Scripture goes onto to tell us that now, Jesus wants to baptize each and every one of us “with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 3:16). He desires to share with us His baptism by immersing us and filling us with His Holy Spirit just like the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost!

Ask yourself today “Do I know the freedom from sin that Jesus’ baptism won for me?” Also ask yourself this question “How well do I really know the Holy Spirit?” Just like the same Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus in the Jordan when He was baptized, this very same Spirit wants to come down upon us and then empower us to live a godly life.

“Thank you, Jesus, for being baptized for me. Now come and fill me with Your Spirit!”